Rod-handled tool



3, 1966 e. E. SEUFERT ETAL 3,267,505

novmmown TOOL Filed Aug. 12, 1963 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,267,505 ROD-HANDLED TOOL George E. Seufert and Janet H. Seufert, both of 82-10 60th Road, Elmhurst, NY.

Filed Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,675 1 Claim. (Cl. 15144) Our invention comprises a rod-handled tool with interchangeable and replaceable work heads for scrubbing, rinsing, mopping dry, waxing, painting or otherwise treating fiat surfaces. The rod-handled tool is fashioned variously for the attachment of a single work head at a time or for the attachment of two different work heads at the same time and equipped with a means for changing the positions of the work heads to permit their alternate use in rapid sequence on either horizontal or vertical surfaces.

The purpose of our invention is to provide a means for cleaning, waxing, painting, and related treatment of vertical or horizontal surfaces in a more eflicient, quicker and more convenient manner than is possible with presently available utensils. With our utensil, for example, an individual can scour, mop dry, wax or paint a surface without having to kneel or even bend down during any part of the operation. Further all of these steps mentioned can be done in rapid sequence while the user is standing erect. The work to be done can be accomplished still more quickly when our rod-handled tool with two reversible heads is employed, since the user can, for example, scour and mop dry a given area with practically no delay between the two operations.

Considerable advantages of economy are also derived from our invention, since our rod-handled tool and its interchangeable, replaceable work heads are substantially less expensive to manufacture than a set of equivalent, separately handled tools would cost.

The nature and objects of our invention are described in the following specification, and the drawings show an embodiment of our invention. All of the characteristics of the various forms displayed herein are defined in the appended claims. In practice, changes in various respects may be made in the construction shown, without departure from .the claim which define the essential novel features by which the invention is distinguished.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of our tool which permits the use of two working heads on either horizontal or vertical surfaces.

FIGURE 2 is a detail perspective view of one section of a perforated, curved strip used in the structure shown in FIGURE 1 as part of the device to lock the work heads in a desired position for use.

FIGURE 3 is a detail perspective view of a cap afiixed to the lower end of the rod handle used in the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURES l, 2 and 3, we have two mounting plates A1 and A2, joined together at an angle of 90 degrees or less as shown. Each mounting plate 4, 5 is made of a flat plate of wood, plastic or metal and may have its lengthwise sides descend inwardly to form suitable channel grooves from end to end. The mounting plates 4, 5 are used as mounting bases for such work heads as a sponge mop, wax applicator, and the like. In order to secure the work heads on the mounting plates, suitable metal slide locks 6 are provided at the ends of each mounting plate 4, 5. Each slide lock 6 glides back and forth within a slot inside the mounting plate and is provided with a suitable pair of tines for locking cooperating with a suitable mounting bolt of the work heads to be attached to the plates. Two parallel struts 7 are ice attached at the edges of the extended sides of the plates, and the struts are located centrally between the ends of the plates. A rod handle 8 extends through the struts and is attached to them with a hinge pin 9. A shaft 10, the ends 11, 12 of which are indicated by dashed lines, extends through the handle over the hinge pin and through a cap 13 at the bottom of the handle. The cap has a perforation 14 for the purpose. The lower end of the shaft is threaded and a round headed dowel 14' is screwed on to it. A coil spring 15 is located between the t-op of the dowel and the cap of the handle. The top of the shaft is bent to project, as shown, through a vertical slot in the handle. A concavely curved strip 16 of metal or plastic with perforations 17 towards each end, the diameters of which are large enough for the dowel to pass through them is secured between the mounting plates. A section 10 of the handles shell which has been die cut at end and sides and bent inwardly to form a barrier-guide keeps the shaft in place with a resulting perforation in the handle. Sections 20 of one or both struts which have been die cut at end and side and bent inwardly to form barriers to keep the rotation of the handle within desired limits. For purposes of better visualization, we show the handle assembly in both of its operating positions.

This structure of our invention works as follows. We start with the dowel fixed in the lower perforation of the curved strip, disposing a work head attached to mounting plate 5 in position for use on a horizontal surface. This being so, a work head attached to mounting plate 4 is automatically positioned for use on a vertical surface. Should the work head on plate 4 be desired for use on a horizontal surface, the operator simply brings the handle to a horizontal position and pulls the shafts handle forward with a finger. This dislodges the dowel from the perforation, and the gravitational pull on the work heads causes them to rotate clockwise on the hinge pin until the barriers on the struts cause the motion to stop. The dowel is now in alignment with the upper perforation and the reverse action of the coil spring will force the dowel to penetrate this perforation, thus locking the work heads in their new positions. The operator then gives the handle a one-half turn, and the work head on plate 4 is ready for use on a horizontal surface. The work head on plate 5 is automatically in position for work on a vertical surface. Repeating the process will return the two work heads to their starting position.

Having described our invention, what we believe to be new is:

The combination of a plate assembly having two mounting plates for work heads as described joined to gether at an angle of or less and two parallel struts attached by their sides at the edges of the extended sides of said plates so as to form the third side of the triangle so described, said struts located centrally between the further ends of said plates, and a rod handle whose lower end extends between said struts and is attached thereto with a hinge pin, said hinge pin located midway between the ends of the struts, said rod handle having a movable shaft extending beyond the bottom of said rod handle, said plate assembly having sockets into which said shaft can be inserted, said plate assembly rotated by gravity pull when said handle is held in horizontal position and said shaft is withdrawn, said plate assembly rotating to its original position when said handle is given a half turn, said plate assembly being located in position for the use of either work head on a horizontal or vertical surface by inserting said shaft in the appropriate socket for that purpose.

(References on following page) r} a 4 References Cited by the Examiner 2,864,110 12/1958 Bruger 15-144 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,932,049 4/1960 Jenkins 15148 6/1896 Koetzner 15 444 FOREIGN PATENTS is? E a- 5 214,298 3/1961 Austria.

1'6 eIlC 3/1933 Cesario 15 264 220,782 4/1962 Austrla. 2; i321 glwska gig; CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 5/1958 P2 32 152264 WALTER SCHEEL, Examiner 9/1958 Leach 151 10 LEON G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

